Aaqib Javed stresses need for separate Test and white-ball teams

Pakistan's interim head coach, Aaqib Javed, emphasized the need to separate the Test and white-ball teams to manage player workload and improve performance. Speaking alongside white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan and Test captain Shan Masood, Javed shared insights about the team's strategies for 2024.  

Javed explained that the sudden changes in the team and management were aimed at steering Pakistan cricket towards consistent victories.

"We need to expand our player pool to match the direction cricket is heading. It's not feasible to have a single player play continuously for twelve months. Separating the Test and white-ball teams is essential," he said.  

He also highlighted the importance of preparing for the Champions Trophy, which will be played in Pakistan's home conditions.

"We will make every effort to take full advantage of these conditions," Javed added.  

It is worth noting that Test captain Shan Masood discussed the team's focus on preparing suitable pitches at home.

"Our goal was to create pitches that benefit our spinners, and we have been working towards that," he stated.  

Reflecting on the team's recent performances, Masood noted, "If we look at our past series, we've played well as a team, but there’s always room for improvement. We’ve faced challenges in varied conditions, which has helped us grow."  

White-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan praised the team's achievements over the past few months but stressed the importance of looking ahead. "The successes we achieved are now part of the past. Our series against Australia and South Africa were good for us, but the last year was a challenging period for the team," he said.

Rizwan highlighted the team's collective efforts in recent series, adding, "The entire team has shown performances in the past few series. We aim to deliver even better results in the upcoming events and matches."